​PLYMOUTH Albion moved into a promotion play-off position with a hard-earned win over Rotherham at a wet and windy Brickfields.

Albion and Rotherham went into the match level on points in the Championship table and both sitting in the bottom four.

A poor first half saw the sides go in all square at 3-3.

But, after conceding an early second half try, Albion upped their game and scored two great touch downs themselves through backs Ruairi Cushion and Ben Mercer.

Disappointingly for Albion, they allowed their league rivals Rotherham to claim a bonus point with the last move of the game.

Despite the importance of the fixture in terms of the end of season play-offs, both sides gave first league starts to young full-backs at the expense of their leading points scorers. After his impressive performances in the cup, Rotherham handed the number 15 shirt to Ben Coulbeck, with captain Michael Whitehead moving to fly-half and Jonny West, who has scored 107 league points this term, dropping to the bench.

Albion, meanwhile, gave a full Championship debut to Devon-born teenager Mark Lee, with captain Kieran Hallett only named among the replacements.

Rotherham, who had beaten Doncaster in their last league meeting and who had triumphed over Albion at Clifton Lane, were the better side for the opening 20 minutes.

They dominated possession and territory.

Fly-half Whitehead had the chance to give his side the lead on 10 minutes with a penalty from 22 metres, but surprisingly he missed the kick.

But he did give his side the lead on 21 minutes when he kicked another penalty.

But that seemed to wake Albion up and they levelled the scorers within three minutes with Alex Davies kicking a three-pointer.

Albion came agonisingly close to scoring in the 29th minute from a good catch-and-drive move.

They were illegally stopped on the line. They got a penalty and went for another line-out but Rotherham defended it brilliantly.

The visitors also kept Albion out right at the end of the half as the home side pressed down the right.

Eight minutes into the second half and Rotherham took the lead with a try from close range by flanker Jon Skurr.

It came after Whitehead had missed a penalty. His kick fell short and was collected by Sione Tu’ipulotu, who called the mark.

However, the Tongan centre sliced his kick up field, giving Rotherham a line-out 15 metres out, from which they scored.

Whitehead was unable to add the tough conversion.

But Albion showed good spirit to hit back again.

After intense pressure in Rotherham’s 22 on the left, they were awarded a penalty after the visitors brought down a five-metre Albion line-out.

To many people’s surprise Davies went for the difficult kick, but he put it over to pull Albion to within two points of the Titans.

And six minutes later Albion went in front with a good try from scrum-half Cushion.

Albion’s forwards did the hard work with an impressive drive and Cushion broke off to dive over. Davies converted to make it 13-8.

That became 20-8 on 70 minutes when Ben Mercer went over for his fourth try of the season after great play by Keni Fisilau and Alex Davies, who again converted.

Rotherham, though, kept going and when Albion had hooker Joe Clark sin-binned in the last minute, they took advantage with Jon Feeley touching down. Jonny West added the conversion.

SEE MONDAY'S HERALD FOR FULL REACTION

OTHER CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS

Doncaster 9 Exeter 14

London Welsh 19 Nottingham 14

Moseley 19 Cornish Pirates 20

Coventry 15 Bedford 15